Honorable Larry Taylor, Chair, Senate Committee on Education
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2431 by Taylor ( Relating to the creation of a committee to recommend a framework to incorporate digital teaching and learning in public schools.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB2431, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($411,928) through the biennium ending August 31, 2021.
The Texas Education Agency is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Texas Education Agency may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that purpose.
Fiscal Year
Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2020
($238,714)
2021
($173,214)
2022
$0
2023
$0
2024
$0
Fiscal Year
Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2019
2020
($238,714)
1.0
2021
($173,214)
1.0
2022
$0
0.0
2023
$0
0.0
2024
$0
0.0
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would establish a fifteen member commission to make recommendations for incorporating digital teaching and learning in public schools. Members of the commission would be entitled to reimbursement for expenses related to the commission's duties. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) would provide administrative support for the commission.
The commission would be required to develop various recommendations related to digital teaching and learning in elementary and secondary schools and deliver a report to the Governor and Legislature by September 1, 2020. The commission would be abolished on January 1, 2021.
The bill would take immediate effect if it receives a two-thirds vote in each house of the Legislature. Otherwise, the bill would take effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.
Methodology
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) estimates that one additional FTE would be required to support the commission's work. This analysis assumes that costs associated with that position, including salaries, benefits, and other operating expenses would total $102,214 in fiscal year 2020 and $98,214 in fiscal year 2021, with no additional costs in subsequent fiscal years.
TEA estimates that expense reimbursements for commission members would total $46,500 in fiscal year 2020. The agency estimates that costs associated with streaming and archiving the commission's public meetings would total $15,000 in fiscal year 2020. This analysis assumes that the cost to hire an external vendor to assist with development of the report would total $75,000 in each fiscal year of the 2020-21 biennium.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.